Home Care Administrator Registry

• Home Care Administrator Certification: Chapter 664 Rules
• Excerpt from the Home Care Act
• Complete Home Care Act
• Home Care Agency Rules

OAC 310:664-3-1

An individual shall be eligible to apply for a home care administrator certificate by meeting one (1) of the following criteria:

1. Successfully completing a Department-approved preparedness program and the OHCAPA; or
2. Being deemed to have met the Department-approved preparedness program standards and successful completion of the OHCAPA.

OAC 310:664-3-4

The Department may grant exceptions from the preparedness program requirement stated in this Chapter, for the purpose of allowing an individual to take the OHCAPA. An individual with one (1) of the following qualifications shall be eligible to take the OHCAPA without completion of the preparedness program:

1. Baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited institution with at least one (1) year full time experience in home care within the immediate past two (2) years;
2. Associate or higher degree in a health field from an accredited institution and with at least one (1) year of full time employment in home care within the immediate past two (2) years;
3. Certificate of Achievement in Health Care Administration by completion of a minimum of thirty (30) college credit hours at an accredited institution in the State and with at least one (1) year of full time employment in home care within the immediate past two (2) years;
4. Registered nurse in the State and with at least one (1) year of full time experience in home care within the immediate past two (2) years; or
5. Evidence of achieving the passing score on the National Association for Home Care Executive Certification Program examination.

If you meet the Deeming Criteria above you may choose either:

1. The Deeming Application or
2. The Provisional Certificate

OAC 310:664-3-5 Deeming Application Process

An individual who desires to apply for deemed status shall apply on the Department form which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. Name, complete home mailing address, and telephone number of the applicant;
2. Copies of credentials which provide evidence of meeting any of the criteria specified in 310:664-3-4; and
3. A non-refundable fee of eighty dollars ($80.00). (b) The Department shall notify the individual of the decision to approve or disapprove the application within ninety (90) days.

OAC 310:664-3-6 Provisional Certificate

(a) An individual may function as an administrator no longer than six (6) months with a provisional certificate, provided that one (1) of the deeming criteria as specified in OAC 310:664-3-4 has been acknowledged by the Department.
(b) An individual shall apply on the Department form which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. Name, complete home mailing address, and telephone number;
2. The name and address of the agency where employed;
3. A copy of written authorization by the administrator or member of the governing board allowing the individual to temporarily function as the administrator;
4. Evidence of meeting the deeming criteria specified in OAC 310:664-3-4;
5. A one (1) time, non-refundable fee of eighty dollars ($80.00); and
6. A copy of the results of a criminal arrest check conducted by the OSBI within sixty (60) days prior to submission of the application.

(c) The Department shall notify the applicant of its decision within thirty (30) days from receipt of the application.
(d) Any individual that alters any administrator certificate or allows alteration of any administrator certificate shall be denied a home care administrator certificate upon application.

The Oklahoma Home Care Administrator Preparedness and Assessment Program (OHCAPA) is a 160 hour course that offers training to individuals that may or may not have any experience working in home health or hospice.  Upon completion of the training, the individuals are eligible to take the OHCAPA examination.  After successful completion of the examination, the individual can apply for a home care administrator certificate.

Following successful completion of the OHCAPA examination, initial certification application must be made to The Department within six (6) months.

• 310:664-3-3. Certificate by completion of the OHCAPA

An individual who has successfully completed the Departmentapproved preparedness program and the OHCAPA or who is otherwise deemed to meet the preparedness program standards and passed the OHCAPA may apply for a home care administrator certificate. An individual shall apply for an initial home care administrator certificate within six (6) months after passing the OHCAPA. Failure to submit an application during the required time frame will result in the individual having to meet the deeming criteria and repeating the OHCAPA. The individual shall apply on the Department form. The application shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:

1. Name, complete home mailing address, and telephone number, of the applicant;
2. A copy of the results of a criminal arrest check conducted by the OSBI completed within sixty (60) days prior to the date of the application;
3. Evidence of successful completion of the OHCAPA; and
4. A non-refundable fee of one hundred forty dollars ($140).

• Deeming Application
• Provisional Certificate Application
• OHCAPA Completion Application (Initial Certification)

Home Care Administrator certificates expire annually July 31^st.  Pursuant to OAC 310:664-11-1(d), renewal applications shall include but are not limited to:

1. Documentation of the continuing education as specified in OAC 310:664-9-4;
2. Renewal fee of fifty-five dollars ($55.00) payable to the Department;
3. Disclosure of any felony conviction since the previous application for certification or renewal;
4. If the renewal is filed on or after August 31 and on or before September 30, a penalty of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) payable to the Department; and
5. If the renewal is filed on or after October 1 and before October 31, a penalty of fifty dollars ($50.00) payable to the Department. An applicant shall submit $50.00 each year up to $100.00 for failing to renew within a two (2) year time frame as addressed at OAC 310:664-11-1(1) and (2).

• Renewal Application
• Request for Duplicate Certificate

Twelve (12) CEU hrs annually.
No more than six (6) CEU hrs through home study annually.
No CEUs required the first year.

CEUs may address the following:

• Administrative skills, duties, and responsibilities;
• Administrative procedures and strategic planning;
• Community relations and public information;
• Fiscal and information data management;
• Human relations;
• Ethics; and
• Content which assists administrators in improving professional competencies

If you obtain CEUs to renew additional credentials specific to a clinical practice (i.e. nursing license), no more than six (6) of the required twelve (12) hours for renewing a home care administrator certification may have a clinical emphasis.

CEU’s may be taken in a graduate or undergraduate course, seminar, workshop, conference, or through a professional association for the purpose of enhancing professional competency.

CEU may not be obtained through independent reading and informal meetings that are informational in nature and are offered as a public service and not for the offering of continuing education.

The instructor must have:

• Experience in home care administration; or
• Expertise in teaching and instructional methods suitable to the subject presented; or
• Academic qualifications and experience for the subject.

Acceptable CEU documents include at least one (1) of the following:

• A continuing education validation form furnished by the presenter;
• A certificate of attendance and an agenda;
• A letter on the sponsoring presenter's letterhead giving the name of the program, location, dates, subject taught, total number of hours attended, participant's name and presenter's name and credentials; or
• An official college transcript showing courses completed with credit issued or audit credit.

Only continuing education accrued in the preceding certificate renewal period is acceptable.

Submission of fraudulent continuing education hours shall be cause for disciplinary action and may result in suspension or revocation of the certificate.

Documentation of home study must include proof of registration for and completion of continuing education hours or units supplied.

The following are excerpts from subchapters 5 & 9 of Chapter 664, Home Care Administrator Certification Rules. The full text of the rules can be found here: HCA Rules, Chapter 664.

The full text of the Home Care Act can be found here: Home Care Act.